The end… the beginning

Posted by shaun wong under Exhibitions
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On 15 February 1942, Singapore fell to the Japanese Army.

I thought it’d be a good idea to drop by this exhibition at the Singapore Philatelic Museum which charts Singapore’s war years till independence through stamps and postcards.

These panels tell of the dawn of Syonan-to and the pain & suffering experienced during the war years.

The tracking of the POWs became the role of the Bureau of Record and Enquiry (BRE) in Changi managed by the British POWs instead of the Japanese. The first mail arrived in Changi on 11 December 1942. All mails sent to POWs in Singapore were sorted out at the Changi POW camp and most of these mails were also censored by the Japanese Camp Interpreter, the Commandant or his deputies. In March 1943, a quarter of a million letters arrived in Singapore. By the end of the war, more than two million items of mail had passed through the BRE.

The yellowed POWs’ letters provide a sobering insight into the POWs and their families’ feelings.

This banana note reminded me of the tale of my great-grandmother using the notes as wallpaper when they became worthless after the war.

To help further establish an Asian identity, this set of new stamps was issued to replace the pre-war Straits Settlements through a stamp design competition. The 1 to 4, and 8 cents were selected from the competition, while the other values were designed by the Postal Department. he stamp designs featured local scenery and activities, namely rubber tapping, tin dredging, Syonan Churieto (Japanese Memorial), Japanese Shrine and Malayan Mosque.

A copy of the Straits Times, dated 11 September 1945 bearing glad tidings for all.

Immediately after the war, resources were very limited, jobs were few as business and trades had to be re-established.

Food had to be rationed

Electricity use had to be regulated

Even stamps had to be re-used

1945 - 48 pre-war King George VI stamps overprinted with ‘BMA-Malaya’.

This envelope contained a letter from Major General H Ralph Hone, Chief Civil Affairs Officer of BMA (Malaya), dated 17 September 1945, informing Mr Kenneth Robberts Wray of his decision on re-opening the post offices with free postal services until the postage stamps arrive.

This letter announced that civil servants loyal to the British during the war years would be rightfully compensated while traitors would be severely dealt with.

Loyalty Week was celebrated in October 1959 as shown in the postcard and small photographs.

Undated Poll Cards indicating poll stations at Joo Chiat, Farrer Park and Upper Serangoon. ‘Your Vote is Secret Sticker’ was used on mail to encourage people to participate in the General Election. This is a radio card featuring David Marshall, Singapore Chief Minister, after the 1965 election.

I found that these postcards, stamps and news clippings come across as an interesting presentation of important snippets of Singapore’s history.

Do catch it before it ends in May.

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